The Lofires Paraphernalia Boutique***

Last week we had an out-of-the-blue album release from Saturday Captains, an Irish band featuring waifs and strays from, perhaps, a less pressurised era of Irish rock.

This week, we have more of the same: Niall Toner Jr, the former lead singer with highly rated 1990s Dublin band The Dixons, and Jonny Rowen, who was once a member of Setanta Records signing, Pelvis. Recorded “in the cracks between the paving slabs of their busy lives” last year, there’s a good sense of integrity flowing through the songs, most of which utilise alternating vocals from Toner Jr (mellow, akin at times to James Taylor’s laidback style) and Rowen (too sweet and high-pitched for me, thanks).

It’s all low-key and downhome – aiming for the heart, not the head – as befits former full-time musicians now writing songs and performing them just for the hell of it.

Download tracks:Desert Songs, You Don't Set Me on Fire